Safe Surfing for Holiday Bargains

by Autumn Bouck

 
Your little niece is obsessed with computer games. You know that her heart is set on a Pokémon game, and so, this holiday season, you decide to buy it for her. Now comes the tricky part: where are you going to get it? When are you going to get it? How are you going to find the best deal? You could set aside a few hours in your already over-booked schedule, hit the people-crazy malls looking for the best deal, and then stand in the endless line to purchase it.

Or... you could turn to the Internet.

Online shopping is growing exponentially. Americans are finding the Internet to be a quicker, more convenient source for many of their gift-giving needs. The government projects that online purchases could exceed $9 billion this holiday season, more than tripling the $1.2 billion spent during all of 1998. Even President Clinton admitted that he was going to join the throngs of online shoppers this holiday season.

Although there are many advantages to shopping online (larger selections, no lines), it doesn't hurt to be cautious about potential risks. Clinton warned in his weekly radio address on November 27, "As with shopping in stores, when consumers shop on the Internet they must take basic precautions to ensure that what they see is what they get." Clinton then outlined some of the main precautions to take when shopping online, as recently established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Details, Details, Details
The FTC recommends that you carefully check for shipping and delivery dates, for extra fees, warranties, return policies, and phone numbers to call if you run into a problem.

Many online vendors offer similar products but different services, so check the details to plan appropriately. If you shop around, you can often find a good deal. For example, at Amazon.com, a popular online retailer, if you want to purchase something to be delivered via standard shipping by December 24, you need to order it by December 15. On the other hand, at Outpost.com, an online vendor that offers many computer products, shipping is always available overnight (and included in the price). Do your research to find the best deal for your needs (see "Online Shopping Sites" to get started).

Use a Credit Card
There are a number of ways to pay for your online purchases, but using a credit card is by far the safest. Credit cards you are protected by federal law against unauthorized charges. Other methods of payment (e.g., Electronic Funds Transfer, cash) leave you more vulnerable because the information is not usually scrambled to ward off hackers, and the federal government cannot protect you from this kind of fraud. It is equally important to remember not to share your credit card number and personal information with anyone you do not trust.

Guard your privacy
Look for an unbroken key or padlock symbol on the bottom of your Web browser window when placing an order to ensure that your credit card information will be transmitted securely. On secure sites, credit card numbers are scrambled making it virtually impossible for hackers to get your information.

Another good bit of advice from Clinton: "Don't share passwords with anyone, and be sure to read the merchant's privacy policy to see what information is being collected about you and how it will be used."

Any reputable e-commerce site will have security features to keep your information safe on their side of the transaction. Both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer have features that notify you when you are accessing a secure site with a padlock or key icon. Never put your credit card number or other confidential information on a site that is not secure.

In addition, you must be certain that your browser is secure to protect your information as it leaves your computer. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator offer a browser with a 128-bit "cipher strength," which is the security standard recommended by the FTC. If you are not sure how secure your browser is, you should download the latest available version. For Netscape, go to http://home.netscape.com/download/. For Internet Explorer, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/download/128bit/intro.htm.

Ready, Point, Click!
Shopping online can be safe if you follow the guidelines laid out in this article. Just grab your credit card and don't be afraid to find your niece's Pokémon game on the Web. You might even find gifts for yourself.